Ann Boggs, the bookstore's community relations director, said that 17 local staff members voted from three titles proposed by management.

''This area is big on regional titles, always has been,'' said Boggs. ''But each staff member went through the books before voting, and everyone was bowled over by this one ('West Texas').''

The corporate office of Barnes & Noble Booksellers has for three years encouraged regional districts to recommend a particular book for shoppers.

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The Lubbock store's Recommended 1997 Holiday Book was John Erickson's deluxe edition of ''Hank the Cowdog.''

In 1998, the book winning the most staff votes was ''Texas Sky,'' featuring the work of photographer Wyman Meinzer.

Authors Cochran and Lumpkin will be joined by Texas Tech Chancellor John Montford from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble for a book-signing.

Montford penned the book's foreword.

Boggs said, ''We're excited that the authors can be here. We'd already voted before we even knew if they could do a book-signing. Having Montford here only makes it more special. So we plan on making their appearance a stylish event.''

She added that corporate policy will not allow her to cite the number of books ordered off the first press run, but later noted that ''at least 100 copies'' will be available today.